Wednesday, October 8, 2014

It's 8:00 and I am ready for bed. We hiked much of the day today. It was sunny and warm this morning and clouded over this afternoon, but never rained. We continue to be grateful for great conditions for being outdoors and doing so much hiking.

We hiked two trails this morning, enjoying the wild flowers along the paths. We also find all the stark dead trees to be interesting. Some were struck by lightening, some are just dead, and some have burned in fires.

Do you know that Utah juniper trees can live to be 1200 years old??? They self select branches that the plant no longer needs. Water no longer goes to those branches, so one might think the tree was dying. Actually, the healthy part will continue to get water so it stays green and flourishes. Amazing how God does that!

Here's Andy and I standing next to an 800 year old Utah Juniper!

At any rate, we walked to the Sand Dunes Arch and the Broken Arch first. They are way north in the park.

Sand Dune Arch...

We felt like we were going to the beach walking on so much sand to get to the arch.

Broken Arch

You can see the crack in the middle of the arch - thus, Broken Arch. This one was very pretty.

On the way to the Devils Garden Trailhead we saw the Skyline Arch, so we pulled over and took a look. Then we walked out on the trail to see the largest arch in the park called Landscape Arch. Two other smaller ones were just off the path so we walked to those as well - Pine Tree and Tunnel Arches. Each one a little different in size, color, shape, position, height...just very interesting.

Skyline Arch - no need for a hike to see this one!

Tunnel Arch

Pine Tree Arch

Landscape Arch - The longest arch in the park

Guess that's what you do when you go to arches!

One of the hikes Andy really wanted to take is Ranger led twice a day. However, our guide books had not told us that you should make reservations online MONTHS in advance. We were told by the Ranger at the visitor center to check in each morning to see if there were cancellations... Yesterday, no cancellations. So today we stopped by to check on as we entered the park. We were standing in line when a couple approached us and wondered if we were interest in hiking the Firey Furnice with a ranger at 2:00 today. That was just what we wanted! Amazing how God provided Andy's desire!!

But that's not all! He gave me MY desire, too, because I really didn't want to do Andy's 2nd choice...it seemed like it was a little more daring and difficult than I was comfortable with.

So we showed up at the trailhead and went canyoneering in the Firey Furnace. It was great fun - challenging at times, but fun. It was beautiful. The people we went with were nice and the Ranger did a good job.

So, here are some fun pics on our new adventure in a canyon! Called canyoneering...

We walked through narrow spaces and jumped over crevices...

We walked along on narrow ledges...

We used foot holds to scoot through narrow high spots...

We scooted along walls holding ourselves up while side stepping along a ledge...

Our guide showing us how to walk with one foot on each side of a crevice.

Our ranger guide, Kali.

In the end, we all made it out safely after 3 hours in the Firey Furnace!

And everyone seemed to really enjoy it!

Went out for Mexican food for supper. Have been laying low reading and working on my blog at night. Tomorrow we will spend a few hours at Cayonlands National Park and then head back to Sarah and Joel's home. We are on beauty overload and cannot take in too much more!!! It has been fabulous but it's time to think about heading home!!!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Spent a delightful day hiking and exploring Arches National Park. What a great place! In the morning we hiked up to Delicate Arch. It was quitet and peaceful. Not many people around when we started. By the time we were on our way down, there were many headed up.

It wasn't too hot and was well worth the effort. We hiked in a variety of terrains...

For a while we were on a nice broad well developed path. It was up hill but not difficult.

Then there was a long steep incline on this flat rock (called slickrock) in the sun...the cairns showed us the way.

Suddenly it was pretty flat with trees, flowers and this pretty, layered rock. Almost seemed like a little park in the desert.

Andy thot I was overdressed for a hike...but the little jacket didn't last too long.

This last little bit was a path along the edge of a cliff around the back of the mountain...that suddenly opened up to the arch.

That is us down under the arch - hardly noticeable!

This is the arch from its side...

The views were spectacular and the arch was amazing. Very satisfying! You do have to keep drinking water tho....

Near the parking lot there were two interesting historical spots...

Some Ute Petroglyphs...

The Wolfe Ranch - The old homestead of a family who lived in the wilderness, isolated in a remote and harsh place.

After a picnic lunch in a pretty little spot, we explored four more areas....

The Balanced Rock area...

Wonder what it will be like to be there when the top topples?

More cairns...actually you are not supposed to play around with the rocks, but everyone does!

From the back side on the road this rock formation looked like the back of a hand...

Next we explored and enjoyed the Garden of Eden....

Then it was on to the Windows Section of the park....very beautiful and majestic!

There were two windows. The one above tou could walk through...

The one below you looked up to see...

Not far away was a huge Turret Arch... That's Andy up there in the opening!

Last but not least was the Double Arch. It was magnificent!

While we were there a German couple launched a camera drone. It was so cool! Never seen anything like it. They sent it out over the double arch...it must have gone up 1000 feet and out 1/4 of a mile. It probably rattled a few people when it came down into the arch! Was fun to watch. We were surprised how fast it could go and how long it stayed out! Would loved to have seen the photos/video!

You had to hike in to see the double arch. The drone was launched from the parking lot so the people at the arch had no idea what it was.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Woke up to another great day! After a hot breakfast at The Broken Spur, we headed out to hike a couple of trails at Capitol Reef. Both were great.

On Route 24 through the park there is a huge Chimney Rock. There is very nice loop hike by the same name. It was steep and long going to the top, but a fun hike. We came back through a canyon, so didn't have to go back up the incline to get to the car. Bonus!

Chimney Rock

The green plants in front commonly called "Morman Tea."

Up close...

And off in the distance...

We drove farther thru the park to hike Hickman's Bridge. It was also steep going up but a nice walk to a pretty bridge.

Heading up...

Scrambling over rocks at times...

The ultimate goal...Hickman's Bridge...

On the way back down...

We walked about 500 feet along this wall of rock - with signs warning us of falling rock and telling us not to linger...

From there we continued on 24 to leave the canyon - the road was a Scenic Byway and very pretty. The rock formations changed quite a bit as we left the park...the color changed to a gray to black. Interesting.

In Hanksville we turned south and got on 95 - another Scenic Byway - for about 120 miles. Dramatic and very beautiful. Not too far down the road the rock formations turned to a dark brown. The rivers in the canyons all seemed to lead to Lake Powell. There were several small roads off the main road to entrance access to Lake Powell. Andy had gone on a couple of houseboat adventures with the staff from Southern Gables back in the day, so it looked familiar to him.

The road went up and down hills, and back and forth around the rock formations. We were in open range several times just like the other day. Only saw 2 black steer tho - off the road. Last night the cowboy told us they all had to be rounded up and off the range by October 15, so the Cowboys have been busy.

About half way through our trip to Moab we came upon the Natural Bridges National Monument and

decoded to check it out. Our park pass worked there, too. Nice! There were 3 beautiful rock bridges and one bridge ruins. You could see them from an overlook or walk into the canyons to see them up close. We choose to just observe from the overlooks.

Later as we went back north up the two lane road to Moab we came upon a beautiful natural stone bridge and got some pictures of that as well. I'm guessing we will see more at the park here.

Got into Moab at about 5:45 and the place was hopping with activity. It is a small tourist town - busy and pricey. We found several places with NO Vacancy signs. Stopped at on with no sign and they had just given their last room to the couple ahead of us. He called to a place across the parking lot and they had a very nice room, newly remodeled at a better rate...so we are in for the night after a ntasty salad, burger, and sweet potato fries at a fairly new classy log cabin type building in town called the Broken Oar... All for now.